CHAPTER 40: NEW KEY

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have chosen Bone Key!]

The screen disappeared, and in a flash of white light, a key appeared in his hand.

"What the...?" the beekeeper and his employees stumbled back in shock, not having expected the flash of light.

Wade lifted the key, examining it. It was a bit bigger than a normal key, with the head sitting bigger than a single coin.

It seemed to have been made out of real bone. It had the same bleached, off-white color.

But the question was, how would he use it?

’Observe.’

The screen appeared before him.

[Bone Key.]

[This is a key that leads into the dungeon called Catacombs of a Thousand Kings. Simply fit the key in a lock, and the dungeon would be opened to you.]

Wade couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of him from the exhilaration he was feeling. His heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline flooding his veins.

He’d done it! He now had a personal dungeon! A dungeon that wouldn’t be subject to tax. That he could use to pay his debts!

Just the value of the loot they’d gotten from Shattered Hall could be rounded up to an estimate of 80,000 coins.

He couldn’t help but imagine what he would do if it was only him that was entitled to 80,000 coins worth of loot. He didn’t have to share with anybody.

But that also meant he would have to clear the dungeon alone, but that was a price he was willing to pay.

However, the most important question was ’How do I get strong enough to survive a solo dungeon run?’

"Adventurer?" His thoughts were interrupted by the tentative voice of the beekeeper.

Wade blinked, turning to the man, the smile still on his face. "Yeah?"

"Can you help me—"

"Nope." Wade interrupted with a cherry grin. He immediately transferred the key into his inventory. "I can’t help you. In fact, I have somewhere else to be."

"B— But we need your help!" The beekeeper said, eyes wide, a note of hysteria in his voice. "If you don’t help us, we’re done for!"

"And somehow, it’s still none of my business." Wade said, already dreaming of all the things he’ll get with his coming wealth.

"See ya, fellas." He tipped an imaginary hat to them and turned to take his leave.

All in all, it had been a productive trip. He’d not only gotten his honey, he’d gotten it for free! And in the process, he’d secured himself a dungeon key.

"I’ll pay you!" The beekeeper’s desperate voice reached his ears and he froze.

He stood there for a few seconds, his optimism warring with his pessimism.

While he’d gotten himself a dungeon key, he needed gear that he would be able to use in order to clear said dungeon. And he needed money to buy said gear.

So, he couldn’t afford to throw away an easy opportunity to earn money.

He turned back, a big smile on his face. "Money, you say? I’m listening."

"I can pay you." The beekeeper said, moving closer to Wade, his expression earnest. "A quest. All you need to do is go to Viscount Fairchild, and stop him from taking my business for me."

Wade crossed his arms, one hand rubbing his chin as he thought about the offer. He needed money, yes, but was this route worth it?

If he took this quest, he risked making an enemy of a Viscount. It didn’t matter if the Viscount was an adventurer or not, he was a noble. And nobility meant resources.

Also, him going to meet the Viscount would also mean revealing his face to the man. And the man might be able to cause him trouble down the road.

It simply wasn’t worth it.

"I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your quest." He said. "I have important tasks that need my attention back at Hiving. Good day."

"Wait! Hiving? The city?" The beekeeper asked frantically.

"Yes. Hiving." Wade stopped, glancing at the man.

"Then, can you escort us there?" The man asked. "If you can escort me, my employees, and my honey safely to Hiving, I’ll give you 1,000 coins!"

Wade blinked at the man, before a smile appeared on his face. "1,000 coins, you say?"

For a journey he was already making? It was a steal.

"Yes. Just to Hiving. Once I get there, I’ll be able to sort out this situation with the authorities."

"Alright. You’ve got a deal."

The man’s employees almost fainted in relief. They began thanking Wade, and after an order from the beekeeper, began scrambling to pack their essentials.

Wade stood there, arms crossed, waiting for them.

A few minutes later, they were packed. They took their places on the wagon, and with a crack of the beekeeper’s whip, the oxen began pulling it out of the compound.

Wade walked beside the wagon, looking up at the beekeeper who was seated at the front, whip in hand.

"You guys should continue on. I’ll join you in a few minutes. I have to go get my horse," he said.

The beekeeper stared at Wade for a few seconds, uncomfortable at the prospect of being without his protection, but had no choice but to nod.

Whistling, Wade made his way back into town, and a few minutes later, found the stable. Informing the stable master of his departure, he saddled the horse, and mounted it.

Soon, he was countering down the slight slope, the beekeeper’s wagon in the distance.

It didn’t take him too long to catch up to them. After all, the oxen was not as fast as a horse could be. At least that was what he thought. Not while the oxen were hitched to the wagon.

He spent a few minutes watching the way the beekeeper proved the oxen. He didn’t whip them like Wade had been expecting.

Instead, he simply cracked it in the air, the sound doing the work for him.

But there was only so much time he could spend watching that before it became boring.

And so, he moved his attention to his daydreams. He still couldn’t believe he’d gotten a dungeon key, so he opened his inventory to check.

[Inventory Slots: 6]

[Slot 1: Coins (953 coins)]

[Slot 2: Barrel (Filled)]

[Slot 3: Bone key]

[Slot 4: Empty]

[Slot 5: Empty]

[Slot 6: Empty]

His eyes moved through the three filled inventory slots, a smile on his face.

Seeing the barrel sitting there, he decided not to stop his honey mead project. Just because he’d gotten a dungeon key, that didn’t mean he couldn’t make trades for another key.

Besides, if he ended up not selling the mead, he could keep it for himself.

Just as he was getting lost in his thoughts, one of the beekeeper’s employees cried out in fear.

"Master, look!"